To address their quarterback depth, the Baltimore Ravens are bringing back a familiar face.
Austin Reed is back in Baltimore after signing with the Ravens' practice squad, the team announced on Monday, Nov. 2. Earlier this year, the 26-year-old quarterback spent training camp with Baltimore after the team placed free agent signing Skyler Thompson on injured reserve.
Ultimately, rookie undrafted free agent and Connecticut product Joe Fagnano won the third-string job in training camp. The Ravens waived Reed as part of roster cuts at the end of August, and he had remained unsigned by another NFL team before Baltimore brought him back on Nov. 2.
The Ravens' quarterback situation is
in dire straits headed into Week 9.
Two-time MVP and starter Lamar Jackson will land on injured reserve with his thumb injury sustained in Week 8, requiring surgery. Backup Tyler Huntley sustained a toe injury in the second quarter of the Ravens' Week 8 game while filling in again for the ailing Jackson. Huntley was due to undergo an MRI on Monday, Nov. 1 to determine the severity of his injury.
Prior to signing Reed, the Ravens only had one healthy quarterback on their roster: Fagnano, who began the day on Sunday, Nov. 1 as the emergency third quarterback. Baltimore also had no other signal-callers on its practice squad before signing Reed.
The Ravens are 4-4 and currently sit in fourth place in a contentious AFC North division. Prior to Week 5, when Jackson missed his first game with an ankle injury, they were 3-1.
Baltimore will likely be in the market for a quarterback ahead of the NFL trade deadline, which is set for 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10. In the meantime, Fagnano is the likely starter for Week 9. Reed is his presumed backup barring any additional transactions.
The Ravens' next game is against the Jacksonville Jaguars on "Thursday Night Football" on Nov. 5. One reporter asked Fagnano after Week 8 if he was healthy enough to face the Jaguars later in the week.
"I think so," he said.
Austin Reed stats
Reed has never appeared in a regular season NFL game. He first signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and spent his rookie year on the practice squad. After Chicago waived him in 2025, Reed signed with the UFL's Dallas Renegades for the 2026 spring football season and played out the year as their starter.
Here are Reed's UFL stats from earlier this year:
- Games: 10
- Completion rate: 174-for-309 (56.3%)
- Passing yards: 1,923
- Passing touchdowns: 21
- Interceptions: 9
- Passer rating: 85.5
- Fumbles (lost): 3 (1)
- Rushing: 30 attempts for 108 yards (3.6 yards per attempt)
In Reed's UFL debut in March, he set the league's single-game passing record with 376 yards. His 309 pass attempts and 21 touchdowns in the spring also led the league.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ravens sign quarterback to practice squad after Lamar Jackson injury
